Sunday, June 23, 2013

Newbery 2013

The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan
Author: Katherine Applegate
Genre: Animal Fantasy
Plot: Ivan is a gorilla who lives at a shopping mall with his friends that include an elephant and a dog.
Verdict: First Person Gorilla
My rating: 4 stars

Splendors and Glooms
Splendors and Glooms
Author: Laura Amy Schultz
Genre: Fantasy
Plot: Lizzie Rose and Parse travel with their guardian, puppet master Grisini.  After they perform at rich girl Clara's party, Clara goes missing and the two children must unravel the mystery
Verdict: Extremely creepy
My rating: 4 stars

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon
Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon
Author: Steve Sheinkin
Genre: Nonfiction
Plot: The stories behind the scientists, politicians and spies involved in the race to build the atomic bomb.
Verdict: Excellently written
My rating: 4 stars

Three Times Lucky




Three Times Lucky
Author: Sheila Turnage
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Plot: Mo and Dale become amateur detectives after their neighbor turns up dead.
Verdict: Spellbinding mystery
My rating: 4 stars

I felt all the books this year deserved to be on the list.  They were each unique in their own way.  I probably would have given Three Times Lucky the medal but I understand that Ivan, with it's unique writing style from the perspective of a gorilla, had extra medal appeal.  Splendors and Glooms was extremely creepy.  I'm not sure I would use it as a read a loud.

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